Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-12-01

powers recuperated more intense mental activi-
ty is required.
The instruction may not have been begun in the
school, but other hands, other thoughts and env-
ronments may have started little gradation call
growth This once started, it may end in the last
term of an increasing infinite series Of geometri
cal ratio. This development not be stopped,
more than the flowing river. that the eict of the
Danish king, should make the ocean waves lie
peacefully at his royal feet Then to direct system
atically this growing activity toward mental moral
and physical improvement, is the legal and remu-
nerative work of the workers.
1t is not my purpose to delineate the phases of
the work. to create light upon the subject but focus
the rays already shining, that shall aid the mental
vision; though it "sees through glass darkly'
| The idea of universal education, with the ten
denotes and forces opposing it lies within the range
of my present thoughts. Universal education is not
only the general enlightenment of the people, but
the exaltaton Of humanity. The demand for it is
loud, and the reasons upon every hand.
| The uneducated men and women of II neighbor-
hood, are the weak threads woven into social
fabric The boy and girl without knowledge, of
at least the elements which finally develop their
own powers, need no prophetic voice TO announce
their future they will be dependent. There is still
multitude of our people, who grade higher;
yet poorly educated that they TO the state
in Nebuchadnezzer's vision. Whether intentional
or unintentiOnal on their part they are weighed in
the balance against free institutions and free gov
| ernment. Beside these. there is hord of foreign
immigration silently over-running the country pop
ulating its cities and the inviting west. SchOoled
IN European forms of government ignorant of law
| burdened with pauperism, vicious, heinous and
wreaking criminals bringing with them doctrines of
socialism and anarchy which, planted in the fertile
soil OF republican freedom has grown TO an enor-
| nous size
The theory OF the tree is that its reach out
through the earth in proportion TO its branches that
sway in the wind. Ii his be true, in the present
! demonstration OF sympathy for the condemned ard
executed anarchists of Chicago, We hear il were
the rustlng of leaves in thousand boughs, from ii
we have data, from which TO judge OF the length
and strength OF its roots. One 0f the first doctrines
| OF anarchy and socialism is opposition to public
| schools, and the education of the masses.
There is still another force ptted against this gen.
| eral enlightenment and public institution; more
powerful in its organization and more subtle in it 5
proceedings, since the stratagem priest robe and
the cloak of RELIGION 1t is the increasing opposi
tion of the Roman Catholics TO the public schools of
America. We not mistaken in this. The de-
mand for public support for parOchial schools, where
| Catholicism is in the majority, as at Lewisburg
Boston, and other places portends no feeble sign Of
the fulfllment of boasted power prophesied by the
votaries of the holy But reference to the
| denunciation of free institutions by this ele-
nent, need be made TO convince the thoughtful. In
September of this present year, the German CathO-
lie Central Verein. comprising 400 societies. in "a
| states and territories, and with membership Of
300 held its annual session in the city of Chicago
This union declared its enmty against the public
schools. 1t declared that the duties of American
citizenship were met when a man paid taxes, voted
and Obeyed the laws: insist that its children shall
be taught in the German Catholic schools educated
| in the German language to the intent that they
shall remain German. Bishop Virgins in an ad-
dress before that convention insisted upon the de-
| moralizing effect of education outside of the
parish schools. Jessing, priest OF Columbus Ohio
arose and asserted the public schools produce
the burglars boOdlers and general crop Of canadian
excursionists, beside such trifes madmen and
murderers. Were there facts TO substantiate SO
base Il chaage the picture would be indeed appalling
Upon the negative is the convincing evidence,
that Catholic educational agencies have the greater
representation in the prisons and work-houses Of
this country. | may instance Ceary, Mclaughlin
| aud QNeil, aldermen of New York, who fleeing
from justice, in prison, faithful worshipers of
the church. The Chicago boodlers Casselman,
Legden, Mcdonald, Mccarthy and Nelson, are the
products of the Catholic parochial school These
ALL but bring before our nation the grave questions;
can our government allowap Immigration SO dark
in ignorance and vice, to live III opposition TO our
free schools? Can nation which tangled the
world independence, foster without warning, the
enemy CT all free thought and religious liberty, Ro
man Catholicity? Can nation, which lifted the
yoke from the necks of 1900, 600 slaves and made
them citizens, allow them to remain ignorant? And
lastly, the Union renowned for its institutions
of learning, permit anarchists and socialists to
denim the Schools defy the influence Of religion and
recruit their ranks from the children of the state
Thousands of voices respond, No!
To the educators, the government looks for the
transformation of the mass of varied and varying
humanity into useful citizens. To do this work the
teachers confront the social questions; Of wages
labor. capital production, distribution, punish
ment, misery marriage, liberty OF. love, liberty Of
thought, religion and education. By the workers
the future people will have their ideas moulded.
The power that controls the people will control
the government
w I'll. Seward said: No country i ruined by
kings presidents government, or legislation, bat
by theipeople." Never the work 81 broad, OF
the times propieious. Thoughtful men are
convinced that the closing years of the 18th century
are tossoming for a mOmentous crisis in our polit-
ica history. caravan of events, passing, that VIII
not halt.
There is tendency III own profession Op-
posing the highest results OF the work that must be
, brooked. We can great danger in plunge over
precipice; but 4 tendency that starts down a gen.
tie decviy gaining speed with accelerated veloei-
ty, unless checked, is destined TO the same desruc
| ton. That tendency of which speak is to make
and women tall in intellect, without the soul
Business men without the objects Of life above the
proh's of trafc, Dgnifed, like the writings o
Pope, Addison and Dryden, soulless when the finel
emotions of the heat are lost. This tendency stop
ped. the prohibition law still enforced the nexi
generation of citizens in state shall dazzle the
world with the splendor of noble manhood and tine
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